Neville Duke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neville Frederick Duke
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Cover from Test Pilot, Neville Duke's autobiography
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| Born | 11 January 1922 Tonbridge, Kent |
| Died | 7 April 2007 (aged 85) St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1964 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit | No. 92 Squadron RAF No. 112 Squadron RAF No. 37 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held | No. 615 Squadron RAF No. 145 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars Air Force Cross Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air War Cross (Czechoslovakia) |
| Other work | Test pilot |
Neville Frederick Duke (born January 11, 1922 – died April 7, 2007) was a famous British test pilot and a top fighter pilot during the Second World War. He was known for shooting down 27 enemy planes. After the war, Neville Duke became one of the world's most respected test pilots. In 1953, he even broke the world air speed record by flying a Hawker Hunter jet at an amazing 727.63 miles per hour (1,171.01 km/h) near Littlehampton.
Contents
Early Life and Joining the RAF
Neville Duke was born in Tonbridge, Kent, England. He went to school at the Convent of St Mary and The Judd School in Tonbridge. One of the houses at The Judd School was even named after him for a while.
Before becoming a pilot, he worked as an auctioneer and estate agent. When he turned 18, he tried to join the Fleet Air Arm, which is the aviation branch of the Royal Navy. However, he was not accepted. Instead, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a cadet in June 1940.
World War II Heroics
First Flights and Victories
After training, Duke became a pilot in February 1941. He joined No. 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill in April, flying Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vs. He flew over occupied Europe, showing great skill as a fighter pilot. He often flew alongside famous pilots like Wing Commander Adolph "Sailor" Malan. By August 1941, Duke had already shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 109 enemy planes.
In October 1941, his unit took a break, and Duke was sent to North Africa. There, he flew with No. 112 Squadron in the Curtiss Tomahawk.
Flying in the Desert
Duke found the P-40 Tomahawk different from the Spitfire. On one of his first flights, he crashed his plane, but he was okay.
He faced tough battles in the desert. On November 30, 1941, he was shot down by a skilled German pilot named Otto Schulz. A few days later, on December 5, he was shot down again and got injured in his leg. He managed to land his plane safely near Tobruk and was sent to Cairo to recover.
Despite these challenges, Duke kept getting more victories. After his squadron got better planes, the Curtiss Kittyhawk, he had at least eight victories by February 1942. For his bravery and skill, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in March.
More Success and Awards
In November 1942, Duke rejoined 92 Squadron in North Africa, flying Spitfire Mark V planes designed for hot climates. He became a flight commander in February 1943 and received the Distinguished Service Order in March. By June, he had added 14 more victories to his total and earned a bar to his DFC, showing he had received the award a second time.
Duke was promoted to squadron leader and became a chief flying instructor. In March 1944, he returned to combat for his third tour. He became the commanding officer of No. 145 Squadron in Italy, flying Spitfire Mk VIIIs. He shot down five more planes in May, earning a second bar to his DFC.
On June 7, Duke's plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and he had to bail out over Lake Bracciano. He almost drowned because his parachute harness got stuck. Luckily, he was helped by Italian resistance fighters until American troops arrived.
Duke scored his last victories on September 7, 1944, shooting down two Fw 190s. At just 22 years old, he became the top Allied fighter ace in the Mediterranean region. In total, he flew 486 missions and spent about 712 hours flying in combat. He was credited with 27 enemy planes destroyed, plus others damaged or shared.
Becoming a Test Pilot
After the war, Neville Duke returned to the UK and started working as a test pilot for Hawker in January 1945. He attended a special school for test pilots in 1946. Then, he joined the RAF's High Speed Flight unit, which was focused on breaking speed records.
Duke received the Air Force Cross for his important test flying work from 1947 to 1948. He flew research flights to understand how aircraft performed at very high speeds and altitudes. In August 1948, he left the RAF but continued flying with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. He even commanded No. 615 Squadron in 1950 and 1951, whose honorary leader was Winston Churchill.
Developing the Hawker Hunter
In 1948, Duke joined Hawker as an assistant chief test pilot. He became Hawker's chief test pilot in 1951. He played a huge role in developing the very successful Hawker Hunter jet. He flew the first trials of the Hawker P1067 in July 1951.
On September 6, 1952, he gave an amazing display in the new Hunter at the Farnborough Airshow. This was just after a tragic accident where another prototype plane crashed, killing the pilot and many spectators. Despite the sadness, Duke bravely flew the Hunter, showing his dedication. Prime Minister Winston Churchill even wrote to him, praising his courage.
World Speed Record
In January 1953, Duke was recognized for his work in supersonic flight and his achievements at Hawker. On September 7, 1953, Neville Duke set a new world air speed record of 727.63 miles per hour (1,171.01 km/h) in a Hunter jet. This amazing feat earned him the Gold Medal of the Royal Aero Club.
He also received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air for saving his aircraft after an engine failure in August 1955. Two days later, he was injured in a forced landing. Another difficult landing in May 1956 caused more injuries, and he had to stop flying as a test pilot in October 1956.
Later Life and Legacy
Neville Duke married Gwendoline Fellows in 1947.
After his test pilot career, Duke worked as an aviation consultant. He later formed his own company, Duke Aviation Limited, in 1960. He was also a personal pilot for Sir George Dowty for many years. He continued to be involved in aviation, even testing planes like the Edgley Optica.
Duke wrote several books about his experiences, including his autobiography Test Pilot (1953) and The Sound Barrier (1953). He received many honors, including the Royal Aero Club's gold medal and being elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1993. In 2002, he received the Jeffrey Quill Medal and an Award of Honour for his unique aviation record.
Neville Duke was also a vice president of the Eagle Club, which was formed by the Eagle magazine. Many young readers learned about him through this connection. Some people even think that the famous comic character "Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future" might have been inspired by Duke's amazing achievements.
He was the honorary president of the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, where his record-breaking Hunter jet is now displayed.
Neville Duke passed away on April 7, 2007, at the age of 85. He was flying his private aircraft when he became ill, but he managed to land safely before collapsing. He was a true aviation pioneer and hero.
